Garage door equipment



mam

Aug, 13, E946.

' w. D. FERRIl's ETAL GARAGE DOOR EQUIPMENT 2 Sheecs-Shee'c.- l

Filed sept'. a, 19,41

lNvENToRV w. D. FERRls ETIAL.

GARAGE DOOR EQUIPMENT Aug, 13,1954,

, Sept. 8I j v INVENTORS 2 Sheets-gheet 2 BY: d

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Patented Aug. 13, 1946 GARAGE DOOR EQUIPMENT William D. Ferris and Cecil R. Wolf, Sterling, Ill., assignors to Frantz Manufacturing Co., Sterling, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 8, 1941, Serial No. 410,028

12 Claims.

This invention relates to closing and opening means for doors of the type generally known as garage doors, although the invention is of broader application where peculiarly adaptable therefor.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide closing and vopening means'for garage doors of the rigid door type, wherein the door is substantially vertical when closed, and in substantially horizontal overhead position when open, and wherein the frame forming the openings for the doors is provided with more or less horizontally disposed track means and the door is .provided with rollers adapted to run on said track means, and wherein the door is provided with a pair of arms pivoted thereto, the opposite endsl of said arms being pivoted to Stationary anchorages fixed to the side frame of the door on two suitable stationary brackets within the enclosure formed by the door frame.

In this type of door it is the object of the present invention to provide a door stop holder adapted to engage the pivoted arms interconnecting the door with the door frame so as to prevent the door from opening too far and more speciiically to provide means for holding such pivoted arms when they are in the open overheadv position whereby to prevent the door from opening too far; to provide, in association witha door of the one-piece type, means for automatically swinging the door from a closed vertical position to an open overhead position immediately the door is unlocked, and wherein a door checking means is provided to act in cooperation with the swingable pivoted lever which pivotally connects the lower portion of the door with a bearing on a stationary abutment, wherein the means operates on the lever to rst check the momentum of the moving door as it moves to open position whereby to slow down the door, and thereafter positively prevents further movement of the door beyond a predetermined position, and in addition provides means to prevent the door rolling lback out of the opening after lit has once reached full open position; to provide a device of the foregoing nature which when properly adjusted assists in guiding the levers of the door and the door s that there will be no contact between the door and the door jamb during the opening and closing movements of the door; to provide a door check for a door of the foregoing character formed of spring metal and bent in such a manner as to provide a snubbing portion for slowing down the momentum of the door as it approaches full open position and thereafter yields to let the door continue at a slowed down pace to full open position, and at which time an absolute check is provided for preventing the door going past full open position, said last mentioned positive door check being constructed in such a manner that the checking and the complete stoppage of the door is accomplished without deforming the door check itself; to provide a door check for a door of the foregoing character which has four functions, to-wit, checking the s-peed of the door, stopping the door, preventing the door rolling outwardly again after being stopped in open position, and lastly to maintain clearance between the door and the jamb; to provide an adjustment for this arm holding means so that it may contact the arms with sufficient pressure to produce the necessary friction for deadening the tendency of the door to rebound when the arm strikes the stop; to provide a pivotal connection between the swinging lever of the door and the bottom of the door whereby all binding between the door and jamb is eliminated and the smooth rolling of the door wheels in the overhead tracks is assured, and whereby there is included also the perfect positioning and locating of all the important pivotal points in the door hardware and its proper operation and action is effected; still another object of the present invention is to provide a door of the foregoing construction which provides substantially perfect positioning of the arm lever pivots, the overhead track and the upper and lower weatherstrips so as to allow substantially perfect freedom of door action, and in addition to provide means which in association with the pivotal con-V nection of the lever arm with the lower portion of the ,door whereby in the closed position of the door the weight of the door is removed from the lever arm and applied solely to the overhead track mechanism, and alternatively which pivotal connection in the open overhead position of the door is arranged so as to maintain the door in full open position and prevent it from rebounding or moving outwardly toward downward closed position; to provide means tending to prevent any binding action at the so-called breaking point of the door when the door is operated; to provide means to prevent or restrain the movement of the arm relative to the connection at the outer end of this arm with the door when the door is in open overhead position, while at the same time permitting the weight of the door to be carried by the track t and roller means and not by the arms when the is released, whereby the opening position of the` door is substantially automatic and whereby this so-called self-starting movement in the opening of the door will eliminate the uncertainty of the door openingtoo fast or too slow as in the case when it is required to manually lift upon the door te give it its initial opening movement; to provide a simple type of stop mechanism for limiting the extreme opening position ofthe door and to provide in association therewith a snubbing action to prevent rebounding of the door after the door hits the st op during the completionof the opening movement; to Iprovide these and other objects of the invention as will be apparent from a perusal of the following specication, takenin-connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein; k

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line. l-I of Figure 2,v showing the door` in closed position VFigure 2V is Aan inside view of the door taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

,Figure A3 a ,vertical sectional view showing the door in open position ;A

ligure 4 is a perspective View of the operating mechanism when the door is in closed position; YFigureg is a, perspective view of the operating mechanism when the door is in open position;

Figure 6- is a perspective view of the right-hand lower bracket which interconnects the outer end of the pivoted arm or lever and the door;

Figure '7 is a plan section taken on line 'I-'I of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a detailedsection view taken on line 8-8 o f Figure 4;

Figure il is a. detailed section View taken on line B Sof Figure 8;

ReferringY now toA the drawingsl in detaiL, the, invention is illustrated in connection with, an enclosure of any desired type, preferably a garage havin-g a frame 2 providing an,openingthe. roof of the garage being shown atA 4. At the: -topthe garage is provided with tracks S which are preferably inclined downwardly from front to rear for the;y purpose of eliminating the. tendency of the,v door to come back slightly after it reaches the complete overhead position., The door. agis preferably vof therigid one-piece type and is adapted when Closed to be inA substantially vertical position with respect to theframe opening as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and to be in substantially overhead openV position, as shown in Figures 3 and 5.

The upper front corners of thev door are provided.Y with abracket l which carries an angularly disposed ear I2k on which is pivotally mounted as at i4 a roller I6 adapted to run in the track 6. It is understood that there are rollers on each side of the door and tracks on. each side ofthe door frame whereby the upper rear opposite corners of the doorare supported by the track 6l In cooperationwith the tracks 6 andthe rollers I6 are provided means for pivotally supporting the vdoors so as automatically to cause them to swing from the substantially vertical closed position upwardly and outwardly toa substantially horizontal overhead open position when the door is unlatched. This means comprises a pair of brackets I8 which are secured as at 20 to a metallic reenforcing weatherstrip 22 `rigidly mounted on the vertical frame 24 at and slightly overlying opposite sides of the door opening. The outer rear face of this bracket carries a mounting member 26 secured thereto by means of the bolts 28, which mounting is provided with an outwardly extending bearing 30 in which is rotatably mounted a short pivotal pin 32, on one end of which is pinned a relatively long arm or lever 34 and to the opposite end of which is pinned a relatively short lever or arm 36. The

- lever arms 3,4-and136. are arranged to swing with the turning of the pivotal pin 32 as the latter rotates in its bearing 30. In short, as the lever 34 swings upwardly with the turning of the pin in its-bearing 36, the short arm 36 likewise swings an equal number of degrees.

Means is provided for pivotally connecting the outer end of the long lever 34` to the door 8. This means comprises. the bracket 46 shownv in Figure 6. This bracket is preferably formed L-shaped and comprises a flange 42 adapted to be fastened to the door by means of screws or the like and a right-angle ilange 44 having an elongated slot 46 and a laterally extending lug 48 projecting from thefree edge of the flange 44.

A pivotal pin 50 connected to the outer end of the lever or arm 34 is adapted to slide in the slot 46. When the door is in lowered position the arm 34 does not contact the lug 48. However, when the door is in open overhead position the arm 34 will contact this lug 48 for a purpose hereinafter made evident.V

A relatively longv coil spring 52 has one end thereoffastened by means of a pin 54 to the outer end of the short arm and the opposite endY of the coil spring 52 is provided with an anchorage 56 engaging a rod 58 which passes through an inclined portion 66 of a bracket fastened to the frame member 24. The upper p0r- -tion of this bracketY is provided with a substantially horizontal face or ledge 64, through which the free end of the rod 58 passes. A nut 66 adjustably holds the rod 58 with respect to the bracket, whereby the tension o f the spring may be adjusted. The vertical stationary member 62 is a part of the doorwayv frame.

Means is provided in association with the arms 34 for checking the speed of the door as it approaches full open position, and for thereafter absolutely stopping the door at full open position,

for preventing the doorroliing reversely or outwardly and downwardly towards closed position, and for maintaining clearance between the door and the door jamb. YIn the door construction forming the subject matter ofy this invention the levers of the arm till and the spring means are so disposed as to cause the door to open automatically when the latch is released without the operator giving the door a preliminary outward or lifting movement. Due to the fact that the present construction is devised so that the door will automatically open when once unlatched, the effectiveness of the lever and the spring power for holding the door in open position is somewhat sacriced. Therefore to hold the door in open k overhead position and to prevent its rolli'ngy back because of the reduced spring power and leverage at the open position, a door check mechanism is used which cooperates in a multifold manner with the lever mechanism to produce a plurality of results. The. check means not only supplies a holding means to prevent the door'rolling backv out of the open position, but also acts to lchange the speed and momentum of the door as it reaches open position, as well as to positively check further. movement of the door after the speed of movementof the door has been reduced. In addition, the doorcheck, when once properly adjusted, assists in guiding the arm levers and the door so that no Contact is possible in open position between the door andthe door jamb. It is practically impossible to obtain rigidity enough in the arm levers and the bearing to obtain such results without the door check, and the door check accomplishes these results Very easily. The door check means comprises a bracket 16 having a slotted outer end 1l for adjustable attachment to the framework of the door, the adjustment being accomplished by means of a suitable bolt 12 passing through the slot and engaging the stationary frame of the door or any other fixed support. The outer end of this bracket is bent forwardly to provide a friction surface 14 and is also provided with a somewhat angularly bent holding portion 16 which terminates in an angularly disposed flange 18 to receive the arm 34. This bracket is preferably formed of resilient metal and is arranged so that as the arm swings upwardly the arm is adapted to engage the portion 14 and force the same laterally with suflicient pressure to produce friction, which thus deadens the tendency of the arm to rebound when the arm strikes the usual door stopping member. By laterally adjusting this bracket 10, the friction pressure may be adjusted to control this deadening effect.

The door ycheck means thus not only supplies a holding means to prevent the door rolling back out of the opening, but also acts to check the speed and momentum of the door as it approaches the open position. In this connection it is desired that the shape of the door check is of particular construction. For instance, by reference to Figure 7 it will be seen that the portion 14 on the door check contacts the arm lever 34 more severely than at the balance of the straight portion of the check as at 16 in Figure '1. After the arm levers, because of momentum, have forced their way past the point 14, the arrn levers cannot return past the high point 14 on the door check. In addition, the door check is made so that it has a substantial flexibility of action so as not only to permit the high portion 14 to be shifted laterally so as to permit the arm 32 to move therepast, but valso so that when the arm 34 strikes the pocket in the stop portion 18 the impact will be taken up in the resiliency of the spring metal arm or bracket as a whole. In addition the slot 1i in the door check provides an easy method of adjusting the severeness of engagement between the door check and the lever arms 34.

Furthermore, the door checks, when properly adjusted, tend to guide the arm levers and door so that no contact is possible in open position between the door and the door jamb. This function of the door check is accomplished very easily as otherwise it would be nearly impossible to obtain rigidity enough in the arm levers and their bearings to obtain such results. When the arm lever moves into the door check with suicient force that it reaches the end 18, as shown in Figure '1, the arm encounters a positive resistance preventing the door going back beyond predetermined open position. The shape of the door check is important for it is the closed end 18 of the che-ck which provides a positive resistance for preventing the door going past full open position and the shape of the entire door check and its construction is important for it is the closed end shape of the door check which is contacted by the arm, and therefore because of the bent end shape of the door check the arm cannot spring the flexible door check out of the way and continue, but is stopped quite firmly. at this point. Thus if the door action is abrupt enough the door check actually does spring away some, but the end of the door check which is bent over to hold the arm lever also pulls the arm lever with it so that even a very violent action of the door is brought under control bythe very flexibility built into the door check and without causing the door check to be bent out of shape.

The spring power at this point is without 1everage because of the pull required of the spring to start the door opening and hence there is notendency of the spring to pull the door back to closed position when in this position, shown in Figure 4. On the contrary, by reference to Figure 8, which represents the closed position of the door, it will be seen that the center of the pin 54 in the closed position of the door is to the left of a vertical line 9-9 passing through the center of the pin 32 and the pin 54, whereby the spring which is connected around the pin 54 and which is constantly under tension in this position is always tending to open the door. Therefore, as soon as the usual latching means on the door is unlatched, this spring is immediately operative automatically to raise the door to overhead open position and as the door approaches extreme open position, as shown in Figure 5, .the spring itself will assume a contracted position and will not be under tension sufficiently to tend to move the l door downwardly again.

It will be noted that the angularly disposed portion'18 of the check definitely forms a stop for the upward position of the arm 34 to limit the overhead position of the door.

It will also be noted by reference to Figure 1 that in the closing and then in the closed position of the door the pin 5G ris sequentially in the central portion of the slot 46 of the bracket 42 on the door and then in the bottomrnost end of the slot respectively in either of which positions the weight of the door is not borne by the arm 34. Thus, in the closing and closed positions, the weight of the door is carried on the roller i6 and on the track 6. I

However, in the open or overhead position of the door this same slotted arrangement is disposed in conjunction with the lug 48 so that as the lever 34 swings to upward position as shown in Figure 3 the left edge of the lever will contact the lug 48 so as to prevent or restrain the movement of the pin 5t in the slot when the door is in overhead position, retains the pin in the right hand end of the slot 46 as shown in Figure 3, which is the upper end of the slot when :the door is in closed position. This prevents the door from again moving or rebounding outwardly beyond the position shown in Figure 3 toward closed position by limiting and preventing movement of the door to the left in Figure 3 relative to the pin 50 on the upper end of the arm 34. The slot and pin connection between the door and the lever 34 also prevents any binding action at the breaking point when the door is operated.

The main, purpose of the slotted plate 44, including the slot 46 and the lug 48 is to allow proper operation and action Aof the hardware,

For instance, it` isf` virtually impossible to obtain.A

an absolutely perfect. positioning ofthe pivot 32' of-the ann lever 34, the pivots 50the overhead track, the upper weatherstrip t0, and the lower weatherstrip or vsteel' stop 22 so asto allow perfect freedom of door action. The location of all these points must be exact, and in the present construction it cannot be done because the main bearing or pivot 30 of the arm lever must be positioned inwardly away from the door jamb 24 so that the short lever arm 3S may clear the door jamb asA the arm. swings arcuately. Consequently if an ordinary hole or aperture were employed in the ldoor plate brackets 40, the hanger wheels I6 would -be forced upwardly against the top of the rail or track 6 when the door was being opened. However with the flexibility in the construction of'the slotted door plate bracket 4U, the wheelsv iiirol-1V smoothly in the bottom of the track as distinguished from the top, and the upper and lower weatherstrips t `and. 22 respectively do not bind' on the door or jamb. Without this construction the smoothness and good balance-of the equipment could not be obtained and the hardware wouldV be impractical to operate, due mainly to the substantial impossibility of obtaining perfect positioning of all important pivotal points without the use of the slotiiiv andits cooperating elements. The lug 48T on the door plate 40 assists in keeping the stud 50 in the correct location when the door isV approaching open position-,- in the manner hereinbefore described.

It will be noted by reference to Figure 1 that the lever 3d is located in relation to the pull of the spring 52 when the door is closed so as to provide suiiicient force to start the door 8- out-v wardly and upwardly automatically the instant the spring latch for the door is unlocked or released so that the opening operation of the door; is practically automatic and therefore differs from the construction of most doors of this type which require a manual initial movement of the door to start the door into upward movement and this starting action also eliminates the uncertainty of the door going open too fast or too slow as in the case when hand starting is" required as hereinbefore set forth.`

Obviously the invention is not limited to the specific forms disclosed herein but is' capable of other modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.

rPhe invention is hereby claimed:

1. In combination with an enclosure having a frame providing a door opening, a rigid door therefor adapted in vertical position to close said opening and adapted to swing bodily to a substantially horizontal overhead openposition, interengageable track and roller means connected to said frame and door, a stationary support mounted to the rear of said door when the latter is in closed vertical position, arr arm having anl axis of turning disposed to the rear of said door' when in vertical position, said arm having at its outer end a turnable pivotal connection with said door, spring means interconnecting said door with a stationary abutment on said frame tending toY shift said door from a closed position to an open position and stop means disposed in the arcuate path of movement of said arm and having a portion adapted to be engaged by'said arm for positively limiting the extreme opening movement of said door, said y stop Vmeans having a portion adapted frictionally to` be engaged by said' arm as'. the door. approaches said stopmeans, whereby to effect'` a preliminaryy snubbing or dampening action on the movement of said arm assaid arm approaches extreme door opening position, said latter portion being shiftable out ofthe path of movement. of said; arm. to permit said arm to engage saidv first mentioned portion of said stop means, and said last mentioned means being operative to prevent rebounding of the door. outwardly after contacting said iirstmentioned portion of said stop means.

2; In combination with. an enclosure having a frame providing a door opening, a rigid door therefor adapted in vertical position to close said opening and adapted to swing bodily to a substantially horizontal overhead open position, interengageable track and roller means connected to said frame and door, a Y stationary support mounted to the rear of said door when the latter is in closed vertical position, an arm having an axis of turning disposed to the rear of said door when in vertical position, said arm having at its outer end a pivotal connection with said door, spring means interconnecting said door with a stationary abutment on said frame tending to shift said door from a closed position to an open position and stopv means including a portion disposed in thev path of movement of said arm and adapted yieldably to engage a portion of said arm, whereby preliminarily to check the movement thereof, said portions being shiftable out of the way of said arm, said stop means including an additional portion adapted to lie directly in the path of movement of said arm whereby after said checking action absolutely to preclude furtherv movement of said arm-beyond a predetermined position, and said last mentioned means being operative to prevent rebounding of the door outwardly after contacting said iirst mentioned portion of said stop means.

3. In combination with an enclosure having a frame providing a door opening, a rigid door therefor adapted in vertical position to close said opening and adapted to swing bodily to a substantially horizontal overhead open position, interengageable track and roller means connected to said frame and door, a stationary support mounted to the rear of said door when the latter is in closed vertical position, an arm having an axis of turning disposed to the rear of said door when in vertical position, said arm having at its outer end a pivotal connection with said door, spring means interconnecting said door with a stationary abutment on said frame tending to shift said door from a closed position to an open position, and a spring metal stop means disposed in the path of movement of said arm and having a portion yieldable out of the path of movement of said arm to permit continued but checked movement of said arm, said stop means including a further portion directly in the path of movementV of said arm to provide a positivestop therefor, and said last mentioned means being operative to prevent rebounding of the door outwardly after contacting saidA rst mentioned portion of said stop means.

4. In combination with an enclosure having a frame providing a doory opening, a rigid door therefor adapted in vertical position to close said opening and adapted to swing bodily to a substantially horizontal overhead open position, interengageable track and roller means connected to said frame `and door, a stationary support mounted to the rear of said door when the latter is in closed vertical position, an arm. having an 'axis of turning disposed vto the rear of said door when in vertical position, said arm having at its outer end a pivotal connection with said door, spring means interconnecting said door with a stationary abutment on said frame tending to shift saidpdoor from a closed position to an open position, and spring metal stop means disposed in the path of movement of said'arm and having a portion yieldable out of the path of movement of said arm to permit continued but checked movement of said arm, said spring metalstop means comprising an arm adjustable laterally with respect to the pathn of movement of vsaid first-named arm, whereby to provide a variation in the frictional engagement of said first-named stop means with said arm as the door approaches its open position.

5. In combination with an enclosure providing a frame forming a door opening, a rigid door adapted to be associated with said frame to close said opening when the door is in substantially vertical position, said door being shiftable bodily to a substantially horizontal overhead open position, bracket means disposed on the inside portion of said frame, said bracket means `including a pivotal bearing, an arm having an axis of turning in said pivotal bearing, said arm at its outer end being pivotally connected to the lower portion of said door, a substantially horizontal track for the upper portion of said frame and roller for the upper portion of said door adapted to run in said track, 'spring means having one end connected to astationary abutment and operatively connected to said door to tend to swing the door to open overhead position from closed position and stop means mounted on said frame adjacent and above said bracket, said stop means having its inner end disposed vertically above the pivotal bearing and lying within the path of movement of said arm as said arm approaches the position in which the door is in overhead open position, whereby to limit said open position of the door, said stop means having a portion yieldably to engage the side of the arm to check the closing movement of the door prior to the complete stoppage thereof andto prevent lateral swaying of the door during opening `or closing movement.

6. In combination with an enclosure having a frame providing a door opening, a rigid door therefor adapted in closed position to lie substantially vertical and to shift to substantially horizontal overhead open position, substantially horizontal track means on the upper portion of said frame, roller means on said door adapted to run in said track means, a relatively long arm, means providing at one end of said arm an axis of turning therefor located to the rear of said door when the door is in closed position, spring means having one end associated with a stationary abutment disposed to the rear of said door when the door is in closed position and having the other end operatively associated with said door to assist in opening said door, means pivotally interconnecting the outer end of said arm and said door including a slot and pin connection therebetween. arranged so that when the door is in closed position the pin will be at a point in said slot removed from the upper end of said slot whereby to remove the weight of said door from said arm, and means operative only in the open position of the door for preventing relative bodily shifting movement between the pivotal connection at the outer end of the long arm and the door.

7. In combination with an enclosure having a frame providing a dooropening, a rig-id door therefor adapted in closed position to lie" substantially vertical and to shift to substantially vhorizontal overhead open position, substantially horizontal trackA means on the upper portion of said frame, roller means on vsaid door adapted to run in said track means, a relatively long arm, means providing at one end of said arm an axis of turningtherefor located to the rear of said door when the door is in closed position, spring means having one end associated with a stationary labutmentdisposed, to the rear of said door when the door is in closed position and having the other end operatively associated with said door -to assist in opening said door, means pivotally'interconnecting the outer end of said arm and said door including a slot and pin connection therebetween arranged so that when the 'door is in closed position the pin will be ata point in said slot removed from the upper end of said slot whereby, to remove the weight of said door from said arm, said connection including stop means associated with the arm to prevent said pin moving in said slot in the open overhead position of the door. Y

8` In combination with an enclosure having a frame providing a door opening, a rigid door therefor adapted in closed position to liesubstantially vertical and to shift to` substantially vertical and to shift to substantially horizontal overhead open position,. subs'temtiallyv horizontal track'means on theiupper portion of said frame, roller means on said door adapted to run in said trackfmeans, a relatively long arm, means providing at one end of saidarm van axis of turning therefor located to the rear'of said-door when the door is in closed position, spring means having one end associated with a stationary abutment disposed to the rear of said door when the door is in closed position and having the other end operatively associated with said door to assistiniopening said door, means pivotally interconnecting the outer end of said arm and said door including a slot and pin connection therebetween arranged so that when the door is in closed position the vpin will be at a point in said slot lremovedfrorr'rthe upper end of said slot whereby to remove the weight of said door from said arm, said connection including means operative only when the door is in overhead position to maintain said pin at the upper end of said slot.

9. In combination with an enclosure having a frame providing a door opening, a rigid door therefor adapted in closed position to lie substantially vertical and to shift to substantially horizontal overhead open position, substantially horizontal track means on the upper portion of said frame, roller means on said door adapted to run in said track means, a relatively long arm, means providing at one end of said arm an axis of.' turning therefor located to the rear of said door when the door is in closed position, spring means having one end associated with a stationary abutment disposed to the rear of said door when the door is in closed position and having the other end operatively associated with said door to assist in opening said door and means providing a pivotal connection between the outer end of said arm and said door including a slot and pin connection operative when the door is in vertical position to remove the pin from that end of the slot in which position the weight of the door will be carried by said arm, said lost motion connection including means operative only when the :door -is in overhead position 'to maintain -the pin fat .such aforesaid pend of Kthe slot.

1.0. In combination with an .enclosure having a frame providing ,a door opening, a Vrigid door :therefor .adapted in .closed position to .lie substantially vertical and to shift .to .substantially :horizontal overhead open position, substantially horizontal track means -on the -upper portion Aof said frame., roller ,means on said door adapted .to run insaid trackmeans, a relatively long arm, means providing at one end of said arm an axis .of turning therefor located to the lrear .of said door when Lthe .door .is in closed position, .spring means .having -one vend associated with a stationary abutment disposed .to the rear of said .door when the `door in closed position and having the other end operatively associated with said door to assist in opening said door and .means providing .a pivotal connection Vbetween the outer end Vof .said arm .and .said -door including `a `slot and pin pivotal .connection between the .arm iand .the door and operative when the door vis in vertical position to permit movement of the 'pin vertically downwardly .-in the slot .so las to remove .the Weight 4of vthe door :from the .arm and vincluding means for preventing .relative .movement between the .slot and the `pin vonly 4when the door is in l.overhead substantially horizontal position.

-11. In combination with Aan enclosure having a `frame providing a door opening, a .rigid 'door thereforadapted in rclosed position to lie :substantially vertical and'ito shift to substantially horizontal over-head -open position, substantially horizontal track means :on the fupper portion of said frame, vroller 4means ,on vsaid door adapted to run .insaid .track means, a relatively long arm, means providing at one end of .said arm an axis of .turning therefor located to lthe rear -of said door `whenvthe door is .in closed position, spring means having one `.end .associated vwith a `stationary abutment disposed .to .the :rear of said `door when the :door .is in 4.closed position .and having the other endfoperatively associated with said door to assist in opening said door .and means providing a 4pivot-.al onnection between the outer end of .said arm `and said Vdoor including -a slot and pin pivotal -connection between the .arm and the door and :operative when the door is in vertical position to permit movement of the pin vertically downwardly in the slot so as to remove the weight of the door from the .arm together with .means for preventing relative -movement between the slot and ythe pin when the door is .in overhead substantially horizontal position, said last named means comprising astop lug disposed -in the path of movement of lthe arm for preventing the pin'from moving in the `slot only when the door is in overhead substantially horizontal position'.

l 12. In combination with an -enclosure having a .frame providing a door opening, a lrigid .door therefor adapted .in .closed position to lie substantially vertical .and -to .shift to substantially horizontal overhead open position', substantially horizontal track means fon the upper por-tion of said frame, roller means mounted on said door relatively close to the upper inner face of said door and adapted to .run in said track means and comprising the sole support'for said door when the door is in y'closed posi-tion, va .relatively long arm, means providing at one end of said arm an axis of turning therefor located -to the rear of said doorv `when the door is in closed position, the other Yend of said arm being pivoted to a bottom portion of said door, a .stationary abutment disposed at the .rear vof the -door when the door is in closed'position, .spring means connected with the stationary abutment and having the other end loperatively associated with the door to assist in opening said door, and means providing na pivotal connection between the outer end 'of said arm and said door, said Aarm and said track .and .roller means constituting the sole support means for the door when the door is -in shifted position, said last named pivotal connection between the arm :and door including means automatically shifting relative to the 'door to a position to .remove ithe weight of the `door from said pivotal connection when the door .is in closed position, and .including .means -for interlocking the .arm and the idoor against relative :shifting when the door reaches -open position.

WILLIAM D. FERRIS. CECIL R. WOLF.

Certificate of Correction Patent N o. 2,405,821. August 13, 1946.

WILLIAM D. FERRIS ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 10, line 30, claim 8, strike out the Words Vertical and to shift to substantially and that the said Letters Patent should be read With this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the oase in the Patent Ooe.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of March, A. D. 1947.

LESLIE FRAZER,

First Assistant ommssz'oner of Patents. 

